There is no fixed review count that guarantees a local pack spot. The honest answer is "as many as the third place business in your local pack, or more, with similar recency and rating." Here is what the data actually says, and how to set a realistic target for your market.
The 4 review signals Google weighs
Quantity (total reviews). Velocity (reviews in the last 90 days). Rating (average star rating). Engagement (owner response rate). Quantity gets the most attention from business owners but matters less than velocity and engagement for ranking.
How to set a target for your market
Open Google Maps and search your primary query. Look at the top 3 listings. Note review counts, average rating, and the date of the most recent review for each. Your floor is matching the third place listing. Your ambition is matching the top one. For a market where the top listing has 312 reviews and a 4.7 average, getting from 41 reviews to 312 takes 12 to 18 months of disciplined review collection.
Industry benchmarks (top 3 averages)
Restaurants: 200 to 800 reviews. Dentists: 80 to 300. HVAC and plumbing: 150 to 500. Lawyers: 30 to 120 (lower because legal review counts skew low across the board). Auto repair: 100 to 400. Personal services (salons, spas): 100 to 350. These ranges shift by city. Larger metros mean more competition and higher review benchmarks.
How to actually collect reviews fast
Build a system, not a habit. Send a review request text within 2 hours of service completion. Use a short link that goes directly to your Google review form (your GBP has a "Get more reviews" share link). Train every staff member to ask in person at the moment of value (right after a great service moment, not at checkout). Aim for a 30 percent ask to review conversion rate. If you serve 50 customers a week, that is 15 reviews per week, or 60 per month, which moves you up the local pack inside 90 days.